‘VEETU KOYIL’, TAMIL NADU, SOUTH-INDIA, C. 1800

A magnificent carved and painted wooden home temple, ‘Veetu Koyil’ in Tamil and ‘Dehrashar’ in Gujarati and Marwari means a temple in the house of the Royal or Zamindari families for private worship, this concept was in prevalence during the early 18th century in innumerable Chettinad houses also, which were influenced by the Madurai temple architecture and patronized local artisans to hand-carve these temples for them with perfection.
“The main shrine nevertheless remains the most sacred and important part of the temple complex, the goal of all devotees entering, who often have a long journey to the heart of the temple” (George Mitchell, Eternal Kaveri, Marg Publications). In much the same way, the ‘Veetu Koyil’ is the most sacred part of a south-Indian home. This ‘Veetu Koyil’ on offer is a large sized one with a Gopuram and was assembled out of temple chariot pieces and depicts a miniature model of the traditional south-Indian temple structure, with intricately carved deities and motifs all round with paintings on the side wall panels and in the front on either side of the door. The structure is formed with a rectangular base with tapered tower in three layers with top canopy.

The overall outer dimensions are 10ft H, 6.4 ft Wide with a Depth of 4.4 ft